Isolation and osteogenic differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

ObjectiveTo investigate the isolation and in-vitro differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into osteocytes.BackgroundUmbilical cord is an important source of multiple cell types such as MSCs that possess the ability of self-renewal and differentiation into several cell types including osteocytes. Bone healing is a complex process that can eventually lead to the formation of malunions, delayed unions, and osteomyelitis. Cellular therapy and bone tissue engineering are becoming a useful addition to medical therapies for bone repairing and restoring function which is a potential tool for the treatment of multiple bone diseases.Patients and methodsThe present experimental study was conducted at Clinical Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments, Menoufia University Hospital from May 2017 to April 2018 after obtaining Menoufia Ethical Committee approval. The study was carried out on 35 umbilical cord samples. Wharton's jelly separated from the umbilical cord was divided into small pieces and cultured in tissue culture plastic flasks. MSCs were separated by plastic adherence, then subcultured in Petri dish 35 mm, treated with osteogenic differentiation media and identified by morphology and immunocytochemistry.ResultsMSCs were isolated from Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord. Isolated MSCs were positive for the markers cluster of differentiation (CD) 44 and CD73 and negative for CD34. They were able to differentiate into osteocytes.ConclusionThe present study showed that MSCs can be isolated from Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord and can be differentiated into osteocytes.